Revised 2009 More entries for "absolute"
absoluteadjective (& adverb) & noun
Factsheet
What does the word absolute mean?
There are 31 meanings listed in OED's entry for the word absolute, five of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
absolute has developed meanings and uses in subjects including
How common is the word absolute?
About 40occurrences per million words in modern written English
| 1750 | 72 |
| 1760 | 61 |
| 1770 | 62 |
| 1780 | 58 |
| 1790 | 53 |
| 1800 | 47 |
| 1810 | 46 |
| 1820 | 48 |
| 1830 | 47 |
| 1840 | 49 |
| 1850 | 52 |
| 1860 | 54 |
| 1870 | 59 |
| 1880 | 63 |
| 1890 | 63 |
| 1900 | 60 |
| 1910 | 58 |
| 1920 | 54 |
| 1930 | 52 |
| 1940 | 50 |
| 1950 | 53 |
| 1960 | 56 |
| 1970 | 49 |
| 1980 | 43 |
| 1990 | 40 |
| 2000 | 37 |
| 2010 | 37 |
How is the word absolute pronounced?
British English
/ˈabsəluːt/
AB-suh-loot
/ˌabsəˈluːt/
ab-suh-LOOT
U.S. English
/ˈæbsəˌlut/
AB-suh-loot
/ˌæbsəˈlut/
ab-suh-LOOT
Where does the word absolute come from?
Earliest known use
Middle English
The earliest known use of the word absolute is in the Middle English period (1150—1500).
OED's earliest evidence for absolute is from around 1400.
absolute is a borrowing from Latin.
Etymons: Latin absolūtus.
Nearby entries
- absinthium, n.Old English–
- absinthol, n.1872–
- absist, v.1614
- absistence, n.1881–
- absit, n.1824–
- absit omen, phr.1594–
- absoil, v.1440–1548
- absolent, adj.c1560
- absolete, adj.1613–1705
- absoleteness, n.a1613
- absolute, adj. & n.c1400–
- absolute address, n.1951–
- absolute addressing, n.1960–
- absolute alcohol, n.1807–
- absolute altimeter, n.1930–
- absolute altitude, n.1798–
- absolute auction, n.1870–
- absolute brightness, n.1832–
- absolute ceiling, n.1918–
- absolute convergence, n.1888–
- absolute discharge, n.1572–
Etymology
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Meaning & use
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Pronunciation
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Forms
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Frequency
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Compounds & derived words
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Entry history for absolute, adj. & n.
absolute, adj. & n. was revised in September 2009.
absolute, adj. & n. was last modified in March 2024.
oed.com is a living text, updated every three months. Modifications may include:
- further revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
- new senses, phrases, and quotations.
Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into absolute, adj. & n. in March 2024.
Earlier versions of this entry were published in:
OED First Edition (1884)
OED Second Edition (1989)
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Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. “,” , .
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Citation details
Factsheet for absolute, adj. & n.
Browse entry
Nearby entries
- absinthium, n.Old English–
- absinthol, n.1872–
- absist, v.1614
- absistence, n.1881–
- absit, n.1824–
- absit omen, phr.1594–
- absoil, v.1440–1548
- absolent, adj.c1560
- absolete, adj.1613–1705
- absoleteness, n.a1613
- absolute, adj. & n.c1400–
- absolute address, n.1951–
- absolute addressing, n.1960–
- absolute alcohol, n.1807–
- absolute altimeter, n.1930–
- absolute altitude, n.1798–
- absolute auction, n.1870–
- absolute brightness, n.1832–
- absolute ceiling, n.1918–
- absolute convergence, n.1888–
- absolute discharge, n.1572–
